(Ecofin Agency) - The Ivorian government has committed to pay a premium of CFA15 million ($25,782) to each soldier who voluntarily agrees to retire on December 31, 2017, Reuters reports.

This measure falls under a scheme to reduce the size of the army which became too big (25,000 soldiers) causing many mutinies since the beginning of this year. Indeed, by 2020, Côte d’Ivoire plans to reduce the size of its army by more than 4,400, at a pace of 1,100 soldiers per year.

Bruno Koné, the spokesperson of the Ivorian government, has announced last week that 991 soldiers have already agreed to retire, on next December 31.

Weakened since the 2011 post-electoral crisis, Côte d’Ivoire recorded earlier this year successive mutinies initiated by lower rank soldiers. The exorbitant premiums paid to end these conflicts, led to the widening of the budget deficit and also impacted the country’s economy.

Fiacre E. Kakpo